The Dunedin City Council will explore ways to ease the burden on low-income households as the prospect of a 6.5% rates rise looms. But she also sounded a note of caution, saying last year’s property revaluations in Dunedin shifted more burden for rates revenue on to the city’s lower value properties. Mayor Aaron Hawkins responded by seeking a report with options to shift that balance back, by making greater use of general residential rates — rather than fixed charges — in future. At present, residential rates were delivered through both mechanisms, but general rates — calculated based on property values — provided the best way to charge those with the greatest ability to pay, he argued. He proposed reducing the burden on commercial ratepayers — thereby shifting more on to the residential sector — to encourage the city’s economy to ‘‘thrive’’.

Source: Otago Daily Times January 29, 2020 15:33 UTC